As they walked through the halls with purpose, Rieven thought about the conversation ahead. I have to have a quick discussion Jackie Boy. There are several different ways this draft can go, and I need to be able to account for him before I start. He grimaced, chaffing at the perceived loss of momentum. XO will ping me if it looks like they are about to call for a vote and Ono will set up the portable holocom. It will work out, even if I have to hold the meeting in the middle of engineering with everyone looking on. He smirked to himself, that would probably do nothing more than add to my legend.
Everyone they came across jumped out of their way quickly, sensing the urgency of purpose in their steps, none wished to be responsible for an unnecessary delay. They entered the shuttle bay. It was cleared save for Jackie Boy pacing in the back, and One-hand’s squad spread out around the area he was in. The corporal ran up to them and saluted cheerfully.
“All’s quiet here sirs!”
Ono looked at her, his armour was still on, but his helmet had been remanded to the gorget, so the silver wings at his temples were in full view – the man was greying early, probably took pride in it too. “Corporal, I want to speak with you and your squad. I want a full report.” She looked confused, but called the squad over and they surrounded Ono while Rieven continued on towards the pacing dragon.
When he closed within four metres Jackie Boy looked up and froze. He quickly spun around to face him fully and then stilled. Rieven could see that his armour was still on the floor, along with his weapon. Rieven stopped too, no need to aggravate the dragon. That wouldn’t do at all. As Rieven looked at him, Jackie Boy looked back. Intently. There was an intensity to his gaze that was unnerving, not from intimidation, but because it felt like it bore down beneath the skin. Without blinking the dragon asked, “Are you a man of honour, one who dies before doing wrong?”
Rieven paused. “Define wrong.”
“Mistreating and deceiving intentionally those who serve you, or whose lives rest within your hands.”
Rieven thought a moment. He would die for any of his crew. Additionally, if he offered protection to another, he would spend his life in their service. However, he was not above lying to obtain an advantage on the field of battle or in the field of politics, even if some of those people were technically ‘under his protection’. He wasn’t sure how to answer this. “I’m not quite sure what you mean. There are times when I must lie to those who claim to be my ally so that the battle of blood or of politics can go well, and there are times when my actions or behaviour may be seen as dishonourable by a dragon, even my behaviour towards my allies. What would you have me say? Our cultures are different. What I see as honour, yours might see as weakness. True the other way round as well. This vow I make to you: I will always treat my crew, and those I am sworn to protect with honour, and I will die before them so long as they remain faithful to me and my purpose.”
Jackie Boy’s shoulders sagged with relief. “If you had answered simply ‘yes’, then there would be no trust between us, for honour has a way of being redefined in a manner convenient for the situation of the actor, and inconvenient for the situation of the victims. You have shown by your actions this day that you value your honour and you tend to it even when it would seem unwise to do so. Your response proves to me that I can trust you to act in good faith, without malevolence.” He paused to gather his thoughts.
Hesitantly he began, starting and stopping as nerves overcame him. “Would, that is to say, I desire, argh. Why must I complicate this unnecessarily? Father is always correct about that.” He squared his shoulders and looked Rieven in the eye, “I wish to defect to the Black Drake’s hold.” He fell to his knees and kowtowed three times, saying, “Please grant unto me your asylum” each time his forehead made contact with the floor – which required him to bend in what looked like a rather painful angle. The entire display was highly expressive of vulnerability and honesty.
Rieven’s mind raced. I didn’t expect that. If he’s honest, and so far I have never known a dragon to not be honest in what they say. They might not say everything, like Big Red, he had some hatred and contempt for me but never expressed it. However, everything he and even Bline Eye said has always been exactly true. If Jackie Boy is saying this, it must be true, no deception. Their Life-Cycle does not permit it, even perceived deception is taboo, as I learned to the Lord Admiral’s pain.
After the third kowtow, the dragon stilled with his face pressed against the floor. Rieven bent down and placed his hand on the back of his head and said, formal Imperial Court cadence and syntax flowing, “I grant unto thee asylum, and furthermore will induct thee into mine hold, conditional on the capacity thou desierest to serve in.”
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All the tension fell out of the dragon’s body immediately, though he did not move. “Arise, and let us discuss your new place.” The dragon stood and waited for Rieven to speak. “Why do you wish to defect?”
His answer was immediate, “Because my father is cruel and delights in the shedding of blood for no purpose other than his own. He is planning on destroying you and your empire the moment you are of no more use to him in his play for the Throne above the Clouds. Rising in power and in authority is all that concerns him, and I would have our people’s enemies brought low, that we may rise together, not one individual alone.”
That tracked, Rieven thought, I never believed for a second that Big Red was willing to be kind and gentle to us. “What function do you propose to serve in my hold?”
“I would serve as your adjunct. You have an executive officer already, and your military unit is well-stocked, but your hold consists only of you, your Dragon Guard, and hopefully me. I do not ask to join the Operatic Empire. I ask to join your hold; and your hold requires an adjunct to execute your will and purpose. Master Sergeant Ono could fulfil that function well, but he is united with the Imperial Marines, and unless you move them into your hold, he is unavailable.”
Rieven thought a moment, Ono did not desire to change positions or rank. He was a marine. The end. He might join the hold if it becomes necessary, but at the moment such things are not required, and it is better to not test the loyalty of others against me or the emperor. Better not to make them choose, they’ll crack, especially now that we are so far away from Homeworld. There is just no need to induct them. Let them serve as they are. “I have not inducted the Dragon Guard into my hold. They are Imperial Marines, and represent me within that force. I do, however, see the use of having an adjunct to my authority as a dragon.”
Rieven shifted the pearl from his left hand to his right hand, and extended his left to the dragon. He took it and they shook hands. “This is not a custom my people have, but it is a nice one,” Jackie Boy said, “thank you sir.”
Rieven let his hand fall gently and said, “You are most welcome into my hold, Black Drake. It is customary to my people for a name to be bestowed upon adoption into a new family. Would it sadden you to see your name replaced?”
“No. My father is without all honour and from this hour henceforth is no longer my father, for I sever all ties between us with the permanence of death.”
“Do you mind a name from our culture?”
“Please, it would be my honour to receive it.”
“Very well, I name you Jackson, and provide this explanation: In the Operatic Military, particularly the Imperial Marines, a new name is given upon induction, one that speaks to some trait or action of that particular individual. When you were on your way, the marines aboard my ship, the Hidden Dagger, said that you’d probably have a name complex to say and not something sensible and easy like Jackie. They’ve been referring to you as Jackie ever since. Specifically Jackie Boy, as you were a son sent as surety. This name I give is in reference to the care of the same marine who name you as your shuttle travelled here. It is a simple name, Jackson, for it is the formal version of Jackie, but one of honour and it shows you are now one of us.”
“I am so named.” Jackson then lifted his head and roared at the ceiling of the shuttle bay. As the sound echoed off the shuttles he called out, “I am Jackson, I am the Inevitability of Death, I am the Adjunct of Death’s Wings, I am Black Drake!”
That got the attention of everyone within hearing distance. No one came over, but all other conversations had ceased. Rieven said, “You have named your nature in the presence of a dragon. I welcome you, Death’s Surety Jackson of Black Drake, Adjunct of Death’s Wings.” Jackson knelt on one knee, touched his forehead, and then stood and began to don his armour.
Rieven took a step back. “How does your culture require me to refer to you? Death’s Surety Jackson is a mouthful.”
Jackon looked up and smiled, “It is. As the head of your hold you may refer to me in whatever way seems best to you, though I feel that Jackson would be appropriate. Your crew may continue to call me Jackie Boy if they wish. My nature is generally named only at formal moments, of which there are many in the Empire of the Celestial Skies, and I suspect the same is true in the Operatic Empire.”
Rieven laughed. “Yes,” he said, “that is very true. We will teach you the etiquette so that you may operate as my adjunct within the empire comfortably. Once you know the rules, you will know how and when to break them for greatest effect with the smallest negative consequence. Master sergeant Ono will be your instructor, as time permits.” Rieven waved Ono over as he said this so that he could hear the instruction.
“’Course sir, I’d be more’n happy to teach this one all the ways Imperial Marines navigate stupidity masked as political custom. The first thing you should remember always is that the commandant is left-handed, so always stand at his right, slightly behind him. This guards his rear, flank, and lets others know your intentions without speech.” Jackson nodded.
Rieven’s mind began to move forward. He now had a powerful ally, one who was honour-bound to follow him. One who would not break faith. I will need him in the times ahead, for such will be scarce. This makes me happy, he thought, though I don’t know what an adjunct will do that others don’t already do. I’m sure between him and Ono they’ll come up with something, probably something I would not have approved of, but find to useful to change.
I will have to do some thinking and figure how to use him correctly. This can either upset the board entirely, or reset it to the beginning. Depends how it plays.
He smiled.
Time to interrupt that Captain’s Board.
